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Review: A Year of Kites

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Written by Monisha Bajaj
Illustrated by Amber Ren
New York : Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2026. Picture Book.

Flying kites was something I remember from my childhood. My husband and I also loved flying kites with our kids when they were young. There is something so delightful about even the cheapest kite catching the wind and soaring high! It truly feels like a timeless classic for adults and children alike. This book explains how it is a world-wide tradition as well.

Each page features a different location in the world and talks about a specific reason kites are flown there at the time they are. From Greece to Hawaii to Guatemala, there are no shortages of unique holidays or reasons why people fly kites. The illustrations do an amazing job presenting gorgeous images of worldwide beauty. There is an included author's note as well as a glossary of terms.

If you are looking for a way to incorporate learning about cultures around the world into any curriculum or personal study, this book will fill those needs in a happy and informative way. There are even some instructions for how people can make their very own kite with some basic supplies! I hope you will check this book out and learn something new, possibly be reminded of your own childhood fun, and maybe even start a new tradition of your own.
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